VARIABILITY OF DECORATIVE FEATURES IN INTERSECTIONAL PEONY HYBRIDS DURING INTRODUCTION

The paper presents data on the study of the biological and morphological characteristics for 13 cultivars of intersectional peony hybrids when introduced in the forest-steppe zone of the Bashkir Cis-Ural. 12 quantitative characteristics have been analyzed (maximum height, maximum shoot thickness at the very top, number of branches from the base, leaf length at the first axillary bud, maximum leaf width at the first axillary bud, width of the leaf lateral segment, pedicel length, maximum pedicel thickness, flower diameter, length of the longest perianth leaflet, the maximum width of the longest perianth leaflet, the number of carpels) and 21 qualitative (appearance of the plant, the main colour of the leaf bud, the main colour of the shoot during budding, undulation of the leaf edge, pubescence of the lower surface of the leaf, the main colour of the leaf, staining of the petiole, anthocyanin colour of the leaf, the main colour of the peduncle, bud opening, level of the flower's doubleness, position of the flower, colour of the flower, type of staining of the outer petals, the main colour of the pigment spot, fragrance of the flower, the main colour of the staminate thread, the main colour of the anthers, shape of staminodial disc, the main colour of the staminodial disc, the main colour of the stigma). Their research has been carried out in accordance with the “Test methodology for distinctness, uniformity and stability”. The phenotypic variability of quantitative parameters has been studied. High variability has been was found for the traits «number of branches from the base» and «number of carpels», low variability − for «flower diameter» and «length of the longest perianth leaflet». A positive average relationship has been revealed between the flower diameter and the maximum width of the longest perianth leaflet (0,60), the maximum pedicle thickness and the number of carpels (0,62). A negative moderate relationship has been recorded between the leaf length at the first axillary bud and the maximum width of the longest perianth leaflet (-0,40). The revealed patterns are of interest for building up a model of peony cultivars and using them in plant breeding.